WHERE TO FIND SHERLOCK HOLMES IN LONDON

Last Updated on 28th January 2018 by Sophie Nadeau

If you’re a fan of all things Sherlock Holmes, then this post is for you! Sherlock Holmes is the brainchild of acclaimed writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The character is a brilliant and eclectic detective (fictionally) living in central London. Holmes first appeared in print in 1887 and has been a national favourite ever since. Though the character himself may be fictional, many of the places he visits in the novels, films and television series based on him are real. Here’s a quick guide on where to find Sherlock Holmes in London:

221b Baker Street, Fictional Address (But you can still see Baker Street)

Er, not a real address! Or, at least it wasn’t when Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was writing about the detective in the late 19th-Century. At the time, the street numbers on Baker Street did not reach 221. However, you can still stroll down Baker Street, which looks much like it did during Victorian London. Many of the 18th Century buildings remain, giving you a glimpse into the street that so inspired Conan-Doyle in the late 1800s.

Furthermore, Baker Street Tube station opened in 1863 and has been in operation ever since. It is one of the oldest running tube stations in the entire world, and it’s very feasible that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle would have hopped on the tube here more than a few times…

Baker Street during the Victorian Era, © The Sherlock Holmes Museum, 221b Baker Street, London, England, www.sherlock-holmes.co.uk

Sherlock Holmes Museum, 221b Baker St, Marylebone, London NW1 6XE

Located in the heart of London, the Sherlock Holmes Museum is dedicated to all things Sherlock, Watson, and Hudson. The address 221b Baker Street was only created in 1932 when the Abbey Bank moved its premises further up the street and street numbers were added to Baker Street. At this time, the bank employed a full-time secretary to reply to mail addressed to ‘Mr Sherlock Holmes’.

The Sherlock Holmes Museum also opened around this time (giving itself the address of 221b Baker Street in the process). This led to a bitter dispute between the bank and the museum as to who owned the iconic address.

However, since the closure of Abbey House, headquarters of the Abbey Bank in 2005, there has been no one around to challenge the claim of 221b Baker Street by the Museum. As such, the museum remains at address 221b to this day. Ironically, 221b today is actually located between 237 and 241 Baker Street.

Hudsons Old English Restaurant, 239 Baker St, Marylebone, London NW1 6XE

Sat right next to the Sherlock Holmes Museum, of all the locations for Sherlock Holmes in London, this may well be the cutest. Located at 239 Baker Street, Hudsons Old English Restaurant doesn’t actually serve any food…

Though it doesn’t take Holmes’ detective skills to work out that the façade has been painted this way in a bid to attract more visitors. Nevertheless, it is an adorable addition and goes well with the theme of being able to purchase ‘Mrs Hudson’s Antiques’ in the museum shop.

The Sherlock Holmes Pub, 10 Northumberland St, London WC2N 5DB

If visiting a traditional English pub is more up your street than museums or ‘typical tourist attractions’, then why not check out the Sherlock Holmes Pub? Located near the Thames, this cheerful pub has a typical ‘British Pub’ atmosphere and is the perfect place to pick up a local pint (or soft drink, of course).

Madame Tussauds, London, Marylebone Rd, Marylebone, London NW1 5LR

In a somewhat ironic twist of fate, Madame Tussauds in London is located in Marylebone, just a short walk away from the end of Baker Street. As such, it’s easy to visit many Sherlock Holmes in London locations in the space of a short few hours.

Here, in Madame Tussauds, you can see various representations of actors who have played Holmes both on television and on the big screen. Since 2016, there has also been ‘the Sherlock Holmes Experience’. An interactive experience, I’m told that this interactive exhibition takes fans straight into the heart of the world of Holmes and Dr Watson.

Also, a little off topic, but incredibly fascinating nonetheless, Madame Tussaud’s burned down in the 1920s. Many of the waxworks melted in the fire. There is little information available online about the event, but from what I’m able to gather, much of the building was destroyed in the flames. However, the company recovered and is now in operation throughout various capital cities today.

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